B.C. company's horse boots helped 'Beyoncé Bowl' go off without a hitch

B.C. company outfitted Beyonce's horse Beyonce’s Christmas Day NFL halftime show was viewed by 27 million people – but it could have been a disaster without a B.C.-based company.

Of the approximately 27 million people who watched Beyoncé's NFL halftime show on Christmas Day, Carole Herder was uniquely ecstatic.

The iconic 13-minute performance – nicknamed the "Beyoncé Bowl" – began with the superstar singer entering Houston's NRG Stadium atop a white horse, which was decked out in hoof boots from Herder's company, Cavallo Horse and Rider.

Up until that moment, Herder had no idea the removable velcro boots, which she designed with her husband as an alternative to traditional horseshoes, would be featured on the program.

"We jumped up and down," she told CTV News. "And had a glass of champagne, as you do."

One of the production companies involved in the halftime show had reached out to Cavallo during rehearsals, after realizing the stadium's concrete floors might be too slippery for Beyonce's steed.

The company, Horses for Production, had used Herder's boots before – while outfitting a donkey that Jimmy Kimmel walked onto the stage during the 95th Academy Awards – and asked about a rush order.

Herder was happy to help, but received little information about what the hoof boots were actually for, until her son-in-law phoned on Christmas and told them to turn on Netflix immediately.

"To be honest, we'd kind of forgotten about it," Herder said. "You know, we were having turkey dinner – and so we put the TV on and here she comes!"

And what are hoof boots, exactly?

Herder compares Cavallo's boots to running shoes, with shock-absorbing material and padded leather insides designed for a horse's comfort.

"When you want to ride your horse, you put the running shoe on, you can run over any terrain at any speed," she told CTV News. "When you come home, you leave him natural and barefoot in his living environment."

Herder was inspired to design the boots after moving to the country and getting interested in horses, which she perceived to be uncomfortable in the metal horseshoes that have been nailed into their hooves for more than a millennium.

"It's an unquestioned, dogmatic, traditional practice," said Herder, who has a background in holistic medicine. "Look at all the things that have changed in the world – this one hasn't, but it is now."

The general consensus in the equine industry is that nailed horseshoes should not cause pain, if properly applied – though there are risks associated with their use, including the potential for damaging the hooves or trapping bacteria, which can lead to diseases such as thrush.

There are also other alternatives on the market apart from Cavallo's, including horseshoes applied with glue instead of nails, and some similar boots as well – though Herder's business boasts having the "most popular hoof boots in the world."

Even so, Herder said she hopes the extra attention from Beyoncé's performance could lead more horse riders, owners and enthusiasts to consider their options.

"It will present something they could do instead – which isn't some 'woo-woo' thing, because Beyoncé does it!"

With files from CTV News Vancouver's Kevin Charach